One of the most anticipated staples of Saint Lucia’s annual carnival calendar is gearing up for a milestone celebration, as organizers officially announced that Color Me Red (CMR) — the island’s signature standalone carnival concert — will return as “CMR – the Encore” on Carnival Friday, July 17, 2026. Held to mark the event’s 20th year as a cornerstone of Lucian carnival culture, the anniversary show will take place at the iconic Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Beausejour, drawing top soca talent from across the Caribbean.
The lineup already boasts an impressive roster of homegrown and regional stars, including leading voices from Saint Lucia’s popular Dennery Segment movement: Blackboy, Mighty, Tallyboy, and fan-favorite Andrew “the biscuit man”. Completing the bill are award-winning local carnival soca acts: Groovy Monarch Kisha, Power Soca Monarch Ezra D’funmachine, Shemmy J, and Sedale. Headliners for the landmark anniversary show, however, are two of Caribbean soca’s biggest names who share decades of history with the CMR event, Skinny Fabulous and Machel Montano, both of whom opened up about their return at an official press conference held Thursday at Saint Lucia’s Windjammer Hotel.
Speaking to attendees at the launch, Thaddeus Antoine, founder and director of Red Carnival — the production company behind CMR — explained the meaning behind the “Encore” moniker, emphasizing that the 20th iteration is unlike any previous edition. “Early in CMR’s run, Skinny Fabulous was just a rising artist studying at the University of the West Indies when he opened for Ricky T here. Machel graced our stage for five straight years, those were some of the best years CMR has ever had. Now both are back, and what do you call a return from fan favorites? That’s an encore,” Antoine said.
For Vincentian soca star Skinny Fabulous, the 2026 show marks a full-circle moment in his decades-long career. He recalled his first trip to Saint Lucia, when he explored the coastal town of Soufriere and took in the world-famous views of the Pitons, and shared how early opportunities at CMR helped shape his path in the industry. “I competed against Ricky T, who I’ve always considered a legend, at the 2009 OECS Soca Monarch. I met Thaddeus back when he worked as an entertainment lawyer, and he was one of the first promoters to give me a large platform to perform. Now I’m back, sharing the stage not just with a pioneering promoter, but with my good friend and brother Machel — it’s really come full circle,” he explained.
Skinny Fabulous echoed Antoine’s excitement, noting that Carnival Friday is widely considered the official start of the full carnival celebration in Saint Lucia, and promised attendees that the 20th anniversary show will be the largest and most impressive celebration of Lucian and Caribbean musical talent ever staged at CMR.
Trinidadian soca icon Machel Montano, who also returns as a headliner, said he has long felt a deep connection to Saint Lucia, dating back to his childhood. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be here. This feels like sitting with family. I’ve been coming to Saint Lucia since I was 9 years old, back when I was too young to even perform soca,” Montano shared. “Two years ago, I played Saint Lucia Jazz and it was one of the best nights of my entire career, the energy from the crowd was unmatched. I haven’t experienced Saint Lucia carnival in years, and as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder. I’m coming with brand new hits this time around.”
Montano also reflected on his long history of collaboration with Saint Lucian creatives, including producers Pen and Ace and soca legend Ricky T, noting that these cross-island partnerships helped lay the groundwork for the Caribbean unity the show celebrates today. He added that he has watched the island’s homegrown Dennery Segment genre grow from a local sound to a major, distinctive force across the Caribbean, and he is eager to share the stage with the movement’s leading artists. “It’s an honor to be invited back to CMR. This is a family affair, and I can’t wait to put on a show full of hits alongside my Saint Lucian and Caribbean family,” he said.
To make the milestone celebration memorable for all attendees, organizers have curated special experiences for both general admission guests and VIP ticketholders. They also extended formal thanks to the event’s platinum sponsors — Bank of Saint Lucia and Windjammer — along with all supporting sponsors and partner organizations that have made the 20th anniversary show possible.